Christmas has come early for hundreds of lucky ticket holders in Spain who are set to share in the spoils of the world's biggest lottery, totaling $2.86 billion.
The chance player with jersey number 88008, known as “El Gordo,'' meaning “the fat one,'' has won the top prize of 400,000 euros (approximately 44 million yen) in Spain's annual Christmas lottery.
While other lotteries around the world have large individual top prizes, the Spanish Christmas Lottery ranks as the world's richest lottery in terms of total prize money.
Early in the morning, people across the country tuned in on TV, radio and the internet as numbers rolled out of two giant shuffle boxes. Then the children of San Her Ildefonso's school in Madrid began singing the winning song.
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Children from San Ildefonso School in Madrid sing the winning numbers loudly during the draw. A chance player with the number 88008, known as “El Gordo” meaning “the fat one”, won his $440,000 top prize in Spain's annual Christmas lottery. (AP Photo/Paul White)
The hugely popular lottery kicks off Spain's festive season, and once the numbers are drawn, celebrations typically begin on the streets and in bars. The winner uncorks a bottle of sparkling wine while people sing and dance in the streets.
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A worker supervises the moment lottery balls are packed into drums before the lottery on December 22, 2023 in Madrid. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Held annually on December 22nd at the Royal Opera House in Madrid, tickets cost approximately $22 each.
Many people prefer to share their tickets in so-called “decimos” (tenths) in the run-up to Christmas. It is a major tradition among families, friends, colleagues, and in bars, sports clubs, social clubs, etc. Tickets go on sale in July, and some players buy their tickets at the seaside resorts and towns where they spend their summer holidays.
The prize money for each top winner will be approximately 325,000 euros after tax, or approximately $360,000. There were also some small prizes to be given out to other ticket holders.
Costumed people wait for the draw to begin at Madrid's Teatro Real Opera House during Spain's big Christmas lottery draw, known as El Gordo. A random player with number 88008 each won his $440,000 top prize. (AP Photo/Paul White)
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According to the Guardian, the draw had to be temporarily halted twice due to failure of the number drum. The handle of the mechanism that activates the ball's exit was loose, so an operator with a screwdriver in hand had to intervene.
Spain established a national lottery as a charity in 1763 during the reign of Carlos III. Its purpose later became to strengthen the national treasury and at the same time support several charities.
The December 22 Lottery began in 1812.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
